Sister Paula says that great things, miracles, happened when John Paul was pope. "The Holy Father took on teachings of Christ in a personal way," she says. "He made of himself a total gift to God in the hands of Mary. It was because of this Russia fell, because Mary knew her children in Russia were suffering. She is in heaven. Heaven must be a place where you can put your foot down."
Sister Paula believes John Paul is up there with Mary right now, listening to her prayers. "People are praying to him. He is answering them. He is answering their prayers. He can go to the Mother of God or to Jesus and ask that these graces be done for them."
Cora Edwards, a day care teacher for St. Michael's School, prays after a children's Mass to honor the pope at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Silver Spring.
(Sarah L. Voisin -- The Washington Post)
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Says Ryan: "There are going to be miracles. . . . Great things have been happening. It's not done yet."
As they leave, Sister Paula and Ryan walk past a photo of Pope John Paul II shaking the hand of Mother Teresa, who is destined for sainthood.
On the edge of Capitol Hill, inside Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian Roman Catholic Church, the Rev. Mark White, parochial vicar, is sitting in an office in a black robe. He says he wouldn't be surprised at all if miracles "take place through the intercession of Pope John Paul II."
In fact, White says, in North Carolina, a family with a relative sick with cancer is praying to John Paul to intercede. And if she is cured, if that happens, it will be a miracle.
And if that cure occurs, that miracle could be used as evidence that the pope is in heaven, and should be named a saint. It could be submitted to the cardinals of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints and the new pope, who would decide whether he is worthy.
The Rev. Greg Coan, parochial vicar at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Olney, who has come to this church today to pray, says the church has a medical bureau with doctors who investigate miracles. "People will say, 'I was sick, now I'm better,' " Coan says. "We believe in miracles. We believed Jesus came and healed people.
"We believe miracles happen all the time."
Like vigil candles burning at the altar. And millions sending up prayers for the pope. Like the belief that heaven indeed exists. And for seven days, the faithful stopping to mourn for a peaceful man.
